Category Archives: Beer Reviews

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Pale Ale, Beer Reviews, Omnipollo x Buxton Brewery, Sweden

Omnipollo x Buxton Original Ice Cream Pale Ale

Wednesday, 4 January 2017 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Omnipollo x Buxton Brewery
Country: Sweden
ABV: 5.6%
Style: American Pale Ale
Other Notes: Brewed and bottled by Buxton Brewery & Omnipollo at Buxton Brewery

Brewer Description: (from website) This is the Original Ice Cream. Brewed with heaps of malted oats and conditioned on one vanilla bean in two liters of beer the sensation of vanilla ice cream is unmistakable. Never stop dreaming.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.69
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 25th October 2018. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A hazy pale golden orange colour with a two finger white head that had pretty good retention and left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Vanilla, orange, lemon peel and stone fruit.
Taste: Biscuit malt, sweet orange, vanilla and cream soda with a touch of hop bitterness and pepper spice.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: I think they pretty much delivered on what was stated. There was definitely some vanilla ice cream taste, but it also wasn’t the best vanilla ice cream I’ve tasted. At the same time, I’m also not so sure vanilla matches well with a Pale Ale.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen, Lambic - Fruit

3 Fonteinen Hommage

Monday, 2 January 2017 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Fruit)
Other Notes: Batch #3. 30% Pajottenland raspberries and 5% sour cherries

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A blend of lambic beers brewed at 3 Fonteinen, with an addition of 30% whole fresh raspberries from the fabled Pajottenland and 5% sour cherries. This unfiltered beer will enjoy a spontaneous refermentation in the bottle. No artificial colors or flavor enhancers are added. Lambic is brewed only from 60% barley malt, 40% unmalted wheat, hops and water.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.62
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.5

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle, bottled on 30th June 2015, and best before 30th June 2025. Poured into a Cantillon ballon glass.
Appearance: A hazy deep ruby red colour with a thin pinkish head that faded fairly quickly and left only sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Strong cherry tartness with jammy fruit sweetness and oak. There are hints of raspberries, lemon zest and light funk.
Taste: Sour, tart, cherry, raspberry, oak, lemon zest and vinegar with a touch of funkiness.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This was just great. Surprisingly the cherry was much more prominent than the raspberries and the funkiness was less than expected but, this was still extremely drinkable, tasty and enjoyable. On my must buy list.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Stone Brewing Co., Stout - Milk / Sweet, USA

Stone Xocoveza

Sunday, 1 January 2017 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 8.1%
Style: Milk / Sweet Stout
Other Notes: 50 IBUs. Hops – English Challenger and East Kent Golding. Brewed with cocoa, coffee, peppers, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg

Brewer Description: (from bottle) There’s nothing like making a beer so beloved that people feel compelled to campaign for its return. So, in the spirit of the holiday season, we are very pleased to give our fans the number one item on their wish lists. That, as illustrated by the avalanche of social media requests, is Stone Xocoveza, an insanely delicious take on Mexican hot chocolate brewed with cocoa, coffee, pasilla peppers, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. First brewed in 2014 with San Diego homebrewer Chris Banker after his recipe was named the winner of our annual homebrew competition, this beer is layered with smooth roastiness, chocolate and a touch of spice. This creamy, semisweet mocha stout has gone from initially being a one-time offering to a yearly tradition thanks entirely to you. Happy holidays from all of us to all of you… and feel free to continue enjoying it long into the winter months, as this gem will age beautifully and is definitely not exclusive to the holidays!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.08
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 330ml bottle, bottled on 2nd October 2016, and poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark brown in colour with a one finger brown head that dissipated fairly quickly but left nice lacing.
Aroma: Milk chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, nuttiness and peppers.
Taste: Lots of cinnamon upfront with nutmeg and mild chili pepper spiciness. Chocolate, coffee and vanilla follow.
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: I was worried that this would be too sweet, but that turned out to be unfounded. The adjuncts were nice and gave it a nice winter/holiday feel to the beer. I would get this every winter and perhaps even age a few to see what happens.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Denmark, Mikkeller ApS

Mikkeller Santa’s Little Helper 2016

Saturday, 31 December 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Mikkeller ApS
Country: Denmark
ABV: 10.9%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Other Notes: Brewed by Mikkeller at De Proef Brouwerij

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Belgian ale brewed with spices.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.31
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.1

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 17th August 2026. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A dark amber brown colour with a big three finger off white head that had good retention and left great sticky lacing.
Aroma: Caramel, sweet malts, dark fruit plum and raisins with a hint of chocolate.
Taste: Sweet caramel and toffee, plum, raisins, candied sugar, black coffee bitterness, orange, spices and booze.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: It’s probably overly sweet for my liking. In addition there is quite a lot of booze coming through especially as it warms and in the end, probably too much.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Denmark, Mikkeller ApS, Porter - Imperial

Mikkeller X’mas Porter 2016 Til Fra Via

Saturday, 31 December 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Mikkeller ApS
Country: Denmark
ABV: 8%
Style: American Imperial Porter
Other Notes: Brewed by Mikkeller at De Proef Brouwerij. Adjuncts – Vanilla Sugar (0.9%), Coriander Seeds (0.3%), Star Anise (0.3%), Cinnamon (0.3%) and Cloves (0.1%)

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Holiday Ale brewed with spices.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.88
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 16th August 2021. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a nice two finger brown head that had decent retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Chocolate, roasted malts, coffee, cinnamon and cloves. I want to say it kind of reminds me a bit of banana cake.
Taste: Starts sweet-ish before turning bitter especially on the finish. Dark fruit plums and prunes, roasted malts, smokey, char, dark chocolate, spices and a hint of vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: Quite a nice Imperial Porter with spices, but perhaps a touch too much smoke and char for my liking.

words of another dreamy traveller